Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-02-21
TALE OF A TELEGRAM.

sunlight brought out the FURNISHED black
: of his close cut hair, and threw into
/ stronger relief his bronzed handsome
face, TO which a slight scar on one cheek
gave a touch of the romantic and pict-
( ureSque. So thought Maud, after her
| brief, comprehensive survey.
Il beg your pardon" said the stranger,
tanning himself with his straw hat rs he
/ spoke, but can You tell me if Mr.. Esta-
brook is hereg''
oh" thought Maud. 'one of Tom $
friends" Then, aloud, Yes that is, he
! lives here, but he isn't at home today
As the newcomer stood irresolute.
! Maud gave him another quick look. which
summed up his whole appearance, from
/ his six feet of stature and the light pedes-
trian Carb that set it Off to the knapsack
hanging over his broad shoulders. Then
she said, hesitatingly: He may be back
tonight. perhaps. Won't you come up TO
the house and rest, 1t is SO warm, And
my mother will be glad to see any friend
of Toms"
The Young man returned her inquiring
glance as he answered. also with some
hesitation: Thanks. 1t is very warm.
certainly. | should he delighted To pay
my respects to-Mrs. Estabrook, if she
will permit me"
With that he put on his hat again. and
the two walked along together under the
blossoming acacia trees. while he intro
duced himself as Marston Folliott, Just
now pedestrianizing in that region. To
which she responded with the informa-
ton that she was Toms sister,
In this way they reached the house,
where Mrs Estabrook was discovered i'll
the cool north parlor. She received her
sons friend very Hospitality, inviting him
to await Toms return, which was ex-
pected by the next morning at latest.
Mr., Folliott's manner was again hesi-
tating, as he half glanced toward Maud.
Il really ought not to take advantage"
he began.
But Mrs. EStabrook, a nervous, eNcit-
able woman, given TO starts and broken
sentences, interrupted him: NO, no!
Pray don't say so. Really, it We aid re-
lieve my mind, now that my son = away;
and of course Peter must choose his very
time Maud, Peter hasn't come back
yet; No. not man on the place, and
this is such a solitary neighborhood!
Burglars and tramps would have us quite
at their mercy
So the young man accepted the urgent
invitation. aud the afternoon wore away
pleasantly, with music and conversation.
and strolling about the grounds.
II was almost tea time. The two ladies
with their guest Were sitting on the breezy
piazza when telegraph messenger came
up the steps, delivered his yellow covered
missive and was off again like a shot out
of sight.
From Tom, probably. said Mrs. Esta-
me-"
She broke open the envelope, while the
conversation between the two young peo-
pie went on. But il was suddenly inter
rupted by an iuarticuiate sound from Mrs.
Estabrook, and looking around, they saw
her white and trembling Maud ran To
her mother and put her arm about her.
Il hope you have received no bad
news began Mr.. Folliott. But as he
advanced Mrs. Estabrook waved him
back, with a poor attempt at q smile.
''Oh. no, not bad at all-only little-a
littlc-unexpected." Then she conveyed
a silent summons TO Maud's anxious eye
adding with the same forced lightness, If
you will excuse our leaving you alone for
n moment, Mr. Folliott, l have a little
household matter 10 arrange with my
tslu-llAsi II I'LL, II II pIllN
for a moment-only moment, l assure
you
As they withdrew she sedulously re-
turned MIR. Folliott's bow, all the while
preserving n set smile strangely at va
riance with her pale face. But no sooner
had they entered the house than it
dropped away, as she turned to her
daughter and said in hollow whisper:
Maud. that man is burglarr'
Maud stared at this startling announce
ment. ''What man, mamma:''
That man out there-that Folliott, as
he calls himself. He isn't friend of
Toms. @Just read this-from Amelia''
Maud took the telegram, which was
from her married sister, living some fifty
miles distant. This was what it CON
tanned:
Have just learned from nursemaid of
suspicious stranger making her acquaint-
ance. Asked all about The Willows and
number Of inmates. Seemed to know
something OF Tom. Tall, dark, gentle
manly looking, and has scar on one
cheek. Look out for him"
Has scar on one cheek echoed
Maud, family, after an instant's blank
silence.
''Oh, Maud, what shall we do.' moaned
Mrs. EStabrook, sinking into seat
And we have actually invited him to tea
"a burglar Well for a friend thought
he seemed very uncertain about Tom"
Il noticed that too" answered Maud
with bent brow, recalling a certain I'M
readiness of tone and manner which had
struck her as strange ut the time. ''Mam-
ma" she continued, I'VE must send Brid-
get or Maggie over 10 the village for
help
NO. almost screamed Mrs. Estabrook,
mot another person must leave the house
oh, how could Peter choose the very day
Tom was gone? When he knows how
nervous ! am, too and to think | told
that-that desperate out there, that there
wasn't man about the place! Maud !
Maud what shall we do ~
Il think l have n plan, mamma,n said
Maud, raising her head from her brown
study. Wait a moment She flew
upstairs and down again. Now come
out on the piazza. He mustn't suspect
anything"
The two ladies' rejoined their unwelcomc
guest, and Mrs. Estabrook rushed into
feverish conversation with him. But her
talk was Of a singularly warlike kind,
turning mainly upon reyolvers and the
proficiency attained in the Use of these
deadly weapons by Bridget and Maggie.
two unsophisticated handmaidens, who in
fact would not have known a toy pistol
from a Gatling gun. Maud, in spite of
her tension of anxiety, grew spcechless
with laughter behind her fan, as she lis
tened, furtively watching the strangers
face and noting his just controlled I'M
easiness. Finally, like one who takes "A
resolution, he began abruptly:
- really am in a very false position''-
''oh, | beg your pardon, Mr.. Folliott," /
quickly interposed Maud, fearing that in
his rising suspicious she would lose her /
prepared coup IF you would |
like TO remove any lingering dust of travel !
you have just time before tea
The young man rose at this hint, and |
Maud, volunteering TO show the way, ac- |
him up the broad staircase and